Exempting newspaper bags shows how ridiculous this law is. The Washington Post is often double-bags. In the old days, when I delivered papers, we didn't need plastic bags. Rather than making people walk to the curb, we would put the paper behind the storm door. (We earned those tips that the delivery men still think they deserve.) Anyway, those newspaper bags are just as plastic as the ones from the grocery store, yet they are exempt.

ed : No it isnt a scare tactic. It is a valid concern.How do u know that there hasnt been any problem in DC/ Was a study done of random residents bags?
Why wasnt this advertised? Why no revese 911 reminding all M C residents? So we could have made it a point to get one.
Just like the M C council didn't advertise that they were going to have this bag tax. They secretly put it on/up for ballot and passed it, where was the public forum? If there had been I know for sure we would have voiced oppositon as M C's bag tax is far more devastating than DCs. Groceries fine. What reusable bag will hold prom dresses and tuxedos purchased from jcpenny? When it is back to school time what reusbale bag will hold all the shoe boxes?

We need to recall or a referendum on this bag tax!

mocoloco: I think putting papers in storm doors is a great way to reduce waste.
But what if there is no storm door?
and with so many houses and apartments I think the newspaper delivery ppl would oppose this as they throw and go, they have to deliver the papers by 6am right?

carolyn: You see. Lack of advertising made you HAVE to buy bags for your clothing store purchases. MoCo's bag tax is well beyond what DC does. You had no choice as you couldnt carry your purchases free hand around the mall.

Retailers already charge us for bags, now they are making an additional 1c as you said. I wish they would lead the charge as Im sure they are going to get hassled by customers when told they must pay for the bag.

FANTAStic qu! Why didnt the m c concil require the stores give out bio degradeable bags? Instead they just tax us consumers, then wonder why we arent spending?

Charging for paper pags makes no sense to me. Those bags are recyclable! I use them to hold the newspapers I put out in the blue recycle bin.

As someone who is a proponent of the law I actually agree with this point. I think there's arguments against - would people just start using large paper bags for small items? Are paper bags still contributing to stream pollution? etc. But otherwise I agree.

donna : AGREED. This is why Im am upset with this bag tax. I dont recall the M C council advertise that they were going to have this bag tax. They secretly put it on/up for ballot and passed it, where was the public forum? If there had been I know for sure we would have voiced oppositon as M C's bag tax is far more devastating than DCs. Groceries fine. What reusable bag will hold prom dresses and tuxedos purchased from jcpenny? When it is back to school time what reusbale bag will hold all the shoe boxes?
There should be no cost on paper bags as even if they do end up in water, they self recycle.
We need to recall or a referendum on this bag tax!

corbim: if we all start using paper bags for small purchases so what? paper bags self recycle.

Lilkunta makes a good point about the lack of bags at shopping malls. I took my daughters to JC Penney on January 1, right after the law had taken effect. It did not even occur to me that bags from stores in the mall would be subject to the ban as they had not publicized it. And because we made a few purchases, I had not option but to get a bag - you can't just carry clothing around the mall freestyle.
I also agree that we need a recall. However, I'd like to see retailers take the lead on this on behalf of their customers. Retailers have much more leverage and money than individual consumers, but they didn't say anything because the law doesn't impact them. Retailers get to keep a penny for every bag sold and of course, they save money by not having to supply bags free. Where is that saved money going? Presumably, into retailers' pockets while consumers are burdened.
If plastic bags were a problem, why didn't the Council require retailers to use only bio-degradable bags? Oh - because retailers and business matter more to the Council than consumers.

That's a ridiculous scenario, Bella. Seriously. You have a car (and gas money to operate it), and you can't come up with the extra $0.05 or $0.10 to pay the bag fee when you don't have an alternative? Jeez. You're not even paying for the food that you would put in the bag. I think you're just punking the Patch readers like me.

moco loco: how do u know bella didnt borrow the car or ask some1 to drive her to the store so she is worried about her wic groceries busting open and messing up some1 else's car.

The elderly woman didn't *have* to go trek *down* to her car, she could have paid 5 cents. Hopefully next time she'll remember to bring it with her before going shopping upstairs.

You aren't deprived, you're just paying 5 cents that you didn't pay before. By your own admission, it is amazing that you are willing to pay more for renewable products, give up the convenience of a car, and live with a dry lawn, but not sacrifice five cents per bag or the time/effort to bring some re-usables with you.

Corbin Dallas Multipass -
You made my point. Everyone has a different breaking point. For me, the metro is far more convenient than the hassle of driving and I like being able to live in an area where I am not tied down to a car. However, while this lifestyle works readily for me and my family (there's only 4 of us and 2 dogs), it might be difficult for others - perhaps those who have a larger family and can only afford a big house if they move to the suburbs where metro is not as accessible. But to me, remembering to carry a disposable bag is a hassle. My husband and I both work, but since I have my own law firm, I have more flexibility. So I will often squeeze in shopping on the spur of the moment between gaps in my schedule and I won't always have a disposable bag on hand.
As for the extra five cents, I won't pay that on principle. I do not think it is fair for me to have to pay a tax on clean up when I not only don't make a mess, but further, take affirmative measures to impose less impact on the environment.
Moreover, I refuse to enrich the retailers with the extra cent. If retailers had been using bio-degradable bags at the outset (which cost a bit more), we might not even have this ridiculous law. And now, retailers are trying to "help" customers comply by selling 20 cent reusable bags for a special price of 99 cents?! I spend hundreds of dollars on groceries - why won't the store give me 5 cents back?

Actually Safeway this week is giving away one resuable bag for every $50 of groceries. I recommend you shop there since you should be able to get at least two free bags if you spend 100s of dollars on groceries. Also, there are free bags being given away at various places - please see the very patch article you are commenting on.

I'm confused, if you refuse to pay the cost and you're not reusing bags, are you planning on traveling to PG, Howard, Frederick, or VA for all your shopping? Or causing a scene every time you go shopping, which I'm sure would take more time?

carolyn: thank you!
first, ALREADY we pay for the costs of the bags we get in the prices we pay for groceries and clothes and shoes. Now we are giving retailers another 1c.

I dont recall the M C council advertising that they were going to have this bag tax. They secretly put it on/up for ballot and passed it, where was the public forum? If there had been I know for sure we would have voiced oppositon as M C's bag tax is far more devastating than DCs. Groceries fine. What reusable bag will hold prom dresses and tuxedos purchased from jcpenny? When it is back to school time what reusbale bag will hold all the shoe boxes?

We need to recall or a referendum on this bag tax! There are many who arent on fb, is there a petition on petiton.com? I hope this will work as it was through online orgnanisation and petitions that leggett 's teen curfew failed. i want this bag tax to be recalled. There should be no charge for paper bags, no charge for bags from clothng and shoes stores. Only bag tax on groceries. It is shoppers, giant, safeway bags strewn everywhere not sears clothing bags or payless shoe bags.

Not sure what store you go to, Bubba, but our local Safeway is outstanding, even with the self checkout line. You scan your items, fill your bags, and then at the end, tell them how many of those evil plastic bags you used. If you're inclined to pay for the bags, it's a pretty easy process. And, since you've paid the littering fee, you should feel free to chuck the bags in the Potomac when you are done with them.

Downtown Silver Spring. First day they did it like you say. But, yesterday they had no bags out and you had to ask the ever attentive cashier for bags; which they'd give you at the end after verifying you put in the right number. I don't know, maybe, everybody was cheating on it.

The patch itself has had countless articles about this, and it's in Patch's interest because it was such a hot topic that it got a lot of page views. The law itself was passed March 15: (http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/dep/downloads/20110503_8-11SIGNEDBILL.pdf via http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/content/dep/water/trashfree.asp) Various groups tried to and are still trying to revoke it, if you feel outraged you should join up with them and see how you can help. Arguably since you didn't hear about the bill those groups didn't do a great job getting out their message either.

correction - introduced march 15, passed in may.

corbin: i'm a faithful reader of the patch and gazette, and i daily watch county cable montgomery. There was no word. I saw nothing about publuc forum. I didnt hear until fall--in september 2011-- WELL AFTER it had passed. Yet I remember hearing when the DC bag tax was first suggested, heard about community dates for input, heard about its passing.
if grocery bags are taxed fine. Clothing store bags shouldnt be and PAPER BAGS SHOULD NOT BE TAXED! They self recycle.

http://bethesda.patch.com/search?keywords=bag+tax

I'm sorry you missed all of these.

If the county isn't broadcasting decisions that's another issue besides the bag tax, but personally given how long it has been since the bill's passing and the lack of strong reaction against it I think you face an uphill battle.

I have to agree with Ed here - the law certainly wasn't passed in secret and the meetings were compliant with open meeting law requirements. But at the same time, the Council didn't go out of its way to encourage community input. The Council did not solicit views from consumers on the potential impact of the law. (Sadly, our Council does not have a Facebook page or use social media as do many other government organizations in other states - it is an extremely cost-effective tool). For example, the Council could have asked various PTA organizations about whether minimizing plastic bags would be a pain in the neck for parents who re-use them to pack lunches. It could have reached out to neighborhood organizations to report on whether dog owners would be inconvenienced. It could have had open forums in the shopping malls around the county to elicit information. But the Council did none of those things.

True, there as ample time given by the Council. With that said, they were going to pass it regardless of any opposition.

My view at the time was sent to Council members and it was simply ignored. I wanted the ability of consumers to return the bag and get their 5 cents back.

ed: please share when were the dates?

carolyn: It is beyond sad that community input wasnt encouraged. Ill remember that when they call me for my vote or campaign donations.

I agree about accessibility. First the meetigns are shown on the county CABLE channel, and thought it is 2012 not every1 has cable. This always has bothered me wth the homework helpline being a fantastic resource but if you dont have cable you wouldnt know. The visual of seeing your math problem as the teacher is explaining on the phone is very helpful.

back on topic: M C council needs to at least allow us to call in out comments. They meet in rockville in the middle of the day. the working poor cannot take off to go to rockville, but Im sure they can step aside for 5min to call in.

grocery bags i understand.
clothing stores bags no and PAPER BAG tax is stupid.

bubba: why do you say that this bag tax was going to pass regardless of opposition?
did the plastics industry make a huge donation to the councilmembers and leggett ?

ed: I'm glad you admit that the council should have better publicised this tax was being considered. i read the gazette weekly. i have today's here with me now. i read many comments AFTERWARDS in the fall when it was on the news that the M C council had passed the tax. I dont recall comments in the early spring when it was being considered.
You say do research on the county website: if this info was there last spring as you claim and we the masses didnt know about it, what makes you think that now there will be more info/more opennness?

Retailers are going to profit. Already we pay for their bags (they arent cheap white bags afterall, they have shoppers, aldi, safeway, giant, macys, etc and logos/emblems on them) in the item price. Already stores have to remit sales tax to the county and state, so it isnt as if they have to get a new payroll company or accountant to remit this bag tax. That 1c will add up to profits. A detailed study would be nice to proove otherwise, but there is no money for that is what the county will claim.

Thank you Ed for taking the time to post this.

Paul--you used canvas bags because they made sense. So do I! My beef is with the government coercing us to do this, via the nickel fee. Everyone talks about how they use these bags for groceries. Fine. But, the Montgomery County Council didn't just impose the fee on grocery store bags. They extended it to all plastic bags--including clothing stores, office supply stores, etc. I don't carry my canvas bags around with me 24/7. So, I'm made to pay the fee when I go shopping. Every time I pay that fee, I despise our leaders a little bit more. I just wish this county weren't so reliably Democrat so that those leaders would fear a little bit for their jobs.

moco loco: exactly! It is shoppers giant safeway aldi bags on the roads, not staples office depot macys jcpenny etc. The bag tax should be for groceries stores only.
The paper bag tax needs to be totally repealed.